Convertible chair



Nov. 3, 1953 J. J. DUFFY ET AL CONVERTIBLE CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 29, 1950 INVENTORSI Nov. 3, 1953 J. J. DUFFY ET AL CONVERTIBLE CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1950 INVENTORS. /-%WW Patented Nov. 3, 1953 5. .11 5; CQNYER'IIBLEFQCHIAIRQ sppiieatmmg sezs, iasuseriamm182mm 7 lams-J. -7 9);

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Still, other. features inszlude a- QQKL QQ -TQI e51: justably. andxletechabiy. cqnneetedi oi he se t Iritliedrawin s; Eigure 1 is a planyiew qf'a cppyertiblec hqir fl embodying the features fthjs iriyentign; a I the hars 'lfl and-theretum; E ure 2:15 a sidevievn ft e a n st d: a 5 By; thus elppleying-tl e cross ba rs 2 s in Figure I showing it converted into a rqclging I l 13ers IQ; ar d; l z are-held in; h r; bit I; n prm e ub tantia Figure 3 is an enlarged-fragmentarysectional he eyiee. view takeni substantially along the 1-irie-3-3'-= of} rte qr; each-pivot 911L126; a Fi ur 2: s exten hmuehen s;

Figure 45* is an enlarged horizontal sectional: in urnhendflfivofi ech siqle n view taken substantially along;-the1in@ 4 -4 o-- Figure 2;

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Figure-5-is an enlarged frag-mentary view partlyrdlyexte d ng platgl s ts; ilcl r tn 9.2 qne n h t cross 39.1, he m ibe z r siqoeneetssli setf e eeim mber i I A: ions ofthepersJA r1 e w kerra-rs Mm ten ie vm dwe etwee carryin G'Yfi insection illustrating the manneni-nwhich the .r "and. J4:- ermi etee s: e e ilen XWIASiOlli .5." an t; foot" beard isadjustably conneetecl 139- the seats member;

he' a s' arei ss m 7 xteedsee h es Figurefi-isan enlarged view o-f the/latches; -a fter describgl between -a of Figu e'fit e iesimsrecesl nerz llella ;tiq .;t i hesiqemembete ers 0 Wh QI mnris sr a .em e upnen he seat; Jime ce v Figure'rise fragmentary seetional viewonan rests 4 8 are earriede t enlarged l scale: taken substamn'elly a loizige the liner ular exter siens; 44.- and Figure 8 is a side view of the chair showing-site 3 3 3Qi8 converted: intn: at youths; chain. and: illustratin 55 Suspended from the arm restsfiik 'a-fieat strike imdmtethlinesatheipflsitiimiqf tnelnante wnmthe um desiemdiesli ee we V chair is:employedxaswarhighclieiis j seet f e gie qqyegeglaw a,- febrip-fih The. test:

frame above referred to comprises a pair of depending bars 54 which are secured at their upper ends to the arm rests 48 and carry at their lower ends inwardly extending opposed horizontal bars 56 which project toward one another between the side members 36 and 38 and terminate at their adjacent ends in spaced parallel members 58 which lie substantially parallel to the arm rests 48. The ends of the members 58 remote from the bars 55 terminate in divergent extensions 60 which extend outwardly toward the extensions 46 of the side frames 36 and 38 and hence project upwardly to form a support for fabric 62 which forms the back of the chair. As illustrated in Figure 1, the members 58 lie in substantially closely spaced parallel relation to form a support for the latch members to be more fully hereinafter described.

Supported on the members 58 is a plate 64 (see Figure 6), of substantially elongated rectangular formation, and carried by the plate adjacent opposite ends thereof are depending ears 66 which are pierced with aligning apertures for the reception of pivot pins 68 and ID. Mounted for rocking motion on the pivot pin 68 is a latch member I2, and a similar latch member 14 is mounted for rocking movement on the pivot 10. The latch member I2 is provided adjacent one end with a notch It for the reception of either cross bar 28 or 30 of the leg members I and I2, while the opposite latch member 74 is provided with a notch I8 for the reception of the cross bar 29 of the leg members [0 and I2. Formed on the latch member I2 at the end thereof remote from the notch 76 is a longitudinally projecting tongue 80 which underlies a longitudinally projecting tongue 82 carried by the latch member 14 at the end thereof remote from the notch 18. It will thus be seen that when the latch member 14 is moved about its pivot in a counterclockwise direction, the tongue 82 thereof will engage the tongue 89, and cause the latch member 12 to move about its pivot 68 in a clockwise direction. A bowed spring 84 lies between the plate 64 and the latch member 12 in order to yieldingly hold the latch members I2 and I4 downwardly. A knob 86 is carried by the latch member 14 adjacent the end thereof remote from the tongue 82 so that the latch member 14 may be lifted upwardly into released position against the effort of the spring 84 when it is desired to change the position of the leg members Ill and I2 relative to the seat 50.

A foot rest designated generally 81 may be detachably connected to the chair and comprises a platform 88 supported on a bar 90 which has lateral extensions 92 at opposite ends thereof. Formed on the ends of the extensions 92 remote from the bar 50 are upwardly extending legs 94 which carry at their upper ends a yoke 96 which is substantially U-shaped and is provided with legs 98 and I0!) respectively which are adapted to engage opposite sides of the depending bars 54 when the foot rest 3? is employed. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the depending bars 54 are provided with vertically spaced openings I02, and carried by the leg I00 at the end thereof remote from the yoke 96 is an upwardly extending arm I04 having a horizontally extending arcuate portion I06 which partially embraces its respective depending bar 55 and carries a lug I08 for entrance into one of the openings I02 in order to lock the foot rest 81 against vertical movement relative to the seat 50.

In use it will be understood that when the chair is to be used as a highchair, the leg members l0 and I2 are rotated about the axes of the pivots 26 so that they assume the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 8 in which case the cross bar 28 is engaged in the notch I6 of the latch member I2. In this way the parts are locked against relative movement and with the foot rest 81 mounted on the seat suspension bars 54, the device may be used as a highchair. When it is desired to employ the chair as a youth's chair, the foot rest 81 is removed, and the latches I2 and 74 moved to released position so that the cross bar 28 is freed to permit the leg members l0 and I2 to move about the axes of the pivots 26 into the full line position illustrated in Figure 8 at which time the cross bar 29 will be engaged in the notch 18 of the latch 14. With the parts in this position, the chair seat will be lower and the device may be employed as a youths chair. In order to convert the device into a rocking chair, the latches are released to permit the bar 29 to be removed from the notch 18 and the leg members are swung about the axes of the pivots 26 into the position illustrated in Figure 2, at which time the cross bar 30 is engaged in the notch 16 of the latch 12. In this position, the curved bases M of the leg members I 0 and I2 will be disposed downwardly and serve as rockers for the chair.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred form of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. In a convertible chair. a pair of spaced vertical side members, an inwardly ofiset substantially horizontal arm rest carried by each side member at the upper end thereof, a seat structure carried by said arm rests and suspended therebetween, a pair of spaced vertical leg members positioned between said side members, a pivot coupling between each side member adjacent the lower end thereof and the adjacent leg member, said pivot couplings lying in a vertical plane passing through the seat structure substantially midway between the forward and rear ends of the seat, cross bars connected to the leg members and extending transversely therebetween, and latches carried by the seat structure engaging one of said cross bars and releasably holding the leg members against rotation about said pivot couplings.

2. In a convertible chair, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular side members, an inwardly offset substantially horizontal arm rest carried by each side member adjacent the upper end thereof, a seat structure carried by the arm rests and suspended therebetween, the major portion of the seat structure being below the level of said arm rests, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular legs connected to the side members adjacent the lower convergent ends thereof whereby a rocking movement, which traces the swing of vertical arcs, which lie between the seat and side members, is followed by the ends of said legs, cross bars connected to the legs and extending transversely therebetween, and latches carried by the seat structure engaging one of the cross bars and releasably holding the legs against movement between the seat structure and the arm rests.

3. In a convertible chair, a pair of spaced vertical side members, an inwardly offset substantially horizontal a m rest carried by each side member at the upper end thereof, a seat structure carried by said arm rests and suspended therebetween, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular leg members positioned between said side members, a horizontal pivot coupling between each side member adjacent the lower end thereof and the adjacent leg member, said pivot coupling lying in a vertical plane passing substantially midway between the forward and rear ends of the seat, one side of each leg member being convexly curved to form a rocker, cross bars connecting the leg members and extending transversely therebetween, and latches carried by the seat structure engaging one of the cross bars and releasably holding the legs against rotation about their pivots.

4. In a convertible chair, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular shaped side members having their apices disposed downwardly, a seat structure suspended from the upper ends of the side members in spaced relation thereto, said seat structure being suspended between the side members, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular shaped leg members pivotally connected adjacent their bases to the side members adjacent the apices of the latter, cross bars connected to the leg members and extending transversely therebetween, and latches carried by the seat structure and in selective engagement with one of said cross bars to releasably hold said leg members against rotation about their pivots.

5. In a convertible chair, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular shaped side members having their apices disposed downwardly, a seat structure suspended from the upper ends of the side members in spaced relationthereto, said seat structure being suspended between the side members, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular shaped leg members, each leg member having a convex base to form a rocker thereon, means connecting the side members adjacent the apices thereof to the legs adjacent the convex bases thereof for movement in spaced vertical arcuate paths between the side members and the seat structure, cross bars connected to the leg members and extending transversely therebetween, and latches carried by the seat structure and in selective engagement with one of said cross bars for holding the leg members against movement in the vertical arcuate paths.

6. In a convertible chair, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular shaped side members having their apices disposed downwardly, a seat structure suspended from the upper ends of the side members in spaced relation thereto, said seat structure being suspended between the side members, a pair of spaced vertical substantially triangular shaped leg members, each leg member having a convex base to form a rocker thereon, pivots connecting the side members adjacent the apices thereof to the legs adjacent the convex bases and intermediate opposite ends thereof, a cross bar connected to the legs adjacent the convex bases thereof and extending transversely between said legs, a second cross bar connected to the legs in spaced relation to the first mentioned cross bar and extending transversely between said legs, and latches carried by the seat structure and extending parallel with the legs in engaging one or the other of said cross bars and releasably holding the legs against rotation about their respective pivots.

7. In a convertible chair, a pair of spaced vertical side members, an inwardly offset substantially horizontal arm rest carried by each side member at the upper end thereof, a seat structure carried by said arm rests and suspended therebetween, a pair of spaced vertical leg members pivotally connected to the side members adjacent the lower ends thereof and substantially midway between the forward and rear ends of the seat structure, cross bars carried by the leg members and extending transversely therebetween, and oppositely extending simultaneously releasable latches carried by the seat structure in selective engagement with one of said cross bars to releasably hold the leg members against rotation about their respective pivots.

JAMES J. DUFFY. JACOB CORNGOLD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,025,422 Peters May 7, 1912 1,954,604 Thomas Apr. 10, 1934 2,494,045 Kaufiman Jan. 10, 1950 

